Timing mechanism for intermittently-fed machines



C. P. WETIVIORE.

TIMING MECHANISM FOR INTERMITTENTLY FED MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 19, 1915. RENEWED NOV. 12,1919.

1,338,? 6 1 Patented May 4, 1920.

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C. P. WETIVIORE.

TIMING MECHANISM FOR INTER IVIITTENTLY FED MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED .IULY I9, I9I5. RENEWED NOV. I2, I919. 1,338,761.

Patented May 4, 1920.-

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c. P. WETMORE. 4 TIMING MECHANISM FOR INTERMITTENTLY FED MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 19, I915. RENEWED NOV. 12,1919.

1,338,76 1. Patented May 4, 1920.

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. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES P. WETMORE, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO KOEHRING MACHINE COMPANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

TIMING MECHANISM FOR INTERMITTENTLY-FED MACHINES.

Application filed July 19, 1915, Serial No. 40,539.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES P. WETMORE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and 'State of Wisconsin, have invented certain "mechanism for determining the duration of the operations of machines such as concrete mixers and, when desired, for registering the number of such operations.

Its main objects are to accurately'determine the length of time material is subjected to certain operations, as in mixing concrete, without requiring special attention, care or judgment on the part of operators; to insure completion of the desired operations without loss of time; and, when it is desirable,'to register the number of operations of the machine or apparatus to which the timing mechanism is applied.

It consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts as hereinafter particularly described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing like characters designate the same parts in the several figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of apparatus embodying the invention as applied to a concrete mixer; Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section on the line 22, F ig. 1 Fig. 3 is an enlarged front elevation of the timing mechanism, the cover of the casing which incloses the same being removed; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the timing mechanism as viewed from the right relative to Fig. 3, the casing being shown in vertical. section with the cover or door closed; Fig. 5 is a top or plan view of the timing mechanism, the casing being shown in horizontal section; and Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views showing parts of the timing mechanism in different positions.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2,.showing the device as applied to a concrete mixer, for which it is specially designed, 1 designates the rotary mixer drum, 2 the fixed section of the charging chute or spout, and 3 the skip or movable section of said chute or spout supported by a yoke 4, which is pivotally mounted on a cross shaft 5, enabling the skip Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1920.

Renewed November 12, 1919. Serial No. 337,624.

or chute to be turned down into position to receive a charge and then turned up into an inclined position, as shown in Fig. 1, to deliver the charge through the fixed section 2 into the mixer drum 1.

The timing mechanism, including a sig nal, which is inclosed and protected by a casing 6, having a glazed door or cover 7, is supported on the framework of the machine adjacent to the skip or movable section of the charging chute 3, with which the timing mechanism is connected.

Referring to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the timing mechanism comprises a rocker shaft 8, having a bearing 9,.formed with or attached to a base plate 10. The shaft 8 is provided at its rear end outside of casing 6, with an op erating arm 11, which is connected, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, by a rod 12, with an arm 13, extending downwardly and outwardly from the yoke 4. The connection between the rod 12 and the arm 13 is preferably made by means of a swivel collar 14, pivoted to the arm 13 and loosely fitted on the rod 12 between a fixed collar 15 and a spring 16, which bears at its opposite end against a washer adjustably held on the rod by nuts 17. This yielding or self-adjusting connection between the timing mechanism and the charging skip or chute section 3, allows for any inaccuracy in fitting or adjustment in the actuating connections of the timing mechanism, permitting the skip or chute section 3, when it is turned up into charging position, as shown in Fig. 1, to pass more or less beyond the limit of the return movement of the timing mechanism to its initial posi tion, without injurious strain upon the parts of such mechanism and its connections.

VVithinthe casing 6 the rocker shaft 8 is provided with loose and fixed arms 18 and 19. The loose arm 18 is pivotally connected at its free end with a head 20 on the upper end of the rod or stem 21 of the piston 22 of a dash pot. The piston 22 is fitted in an oscillatory cylinder 23, which is pivotally mounted at its lower end on a stud 24, projecting outwardly from the base plate 10. The piston is formed with a restricted bypass opening 25, through which air or other fluid resistance medium confined in the cylinder, is permitted to flow from the lower part of the cylinder into the upper part thereof,-thereby retarding or checking the downward movement of the piston. It is also formed with a larger port or opening 26, controlled by an upwardly closing check valve 27, which permits the air or other fluid resistance medium to flow freely from the upper part of the cylinder into the lower part thereof, thereby allowing the piston to be quickly moved back. to its initial position in the upper part of the cylinder.

A spring 28, attached at one end to a stud projecting from the back of the arm 18 and at the other end to a stud on plate 10, tends to turn said arm downward and to move the piston 22 from the upper toward the lower end of the cylinder 23 against the resistance of air or other fluid resistance medium con- 7 fined in the cylinder, such movement of the piston being retarded by the restricted flow of the air or other fluid through the small opening 25. e

The fixed arm 19 is provided with a pivoted dog-or latch 29, which is formed with a notch adapted by engagement with an angular stud 30 on the arm 18, to swing said arm upwardly and return the piston 22 to.

its initial position in the upper end of the cylinder 23, when the operating arm 11 on the rocker shaft 8 is swung to the right, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3 by its connection with the charging skip or chute section 3.

A stud 31, projecting forwardly from the plate 10 into the path of the arm 18 and dog 29, forms a trip stop which limits the upward movement of the arm 18, and by engagement with the beveled end of the dog, disengages the same from the stud 30 when the arm 18 is turned with the 'arm 19 up wardly to its initial position, as shown in.

Fig. 3. A spring 32, connecting the lower end of the dog 29 with an ear on the arm 19, tends to hold the dog in engagement with the stud 30, the pivotal movement of the dog relative to the arm 19 being limited by a pin 33 projecting from said arm into a transverse slot in the dog, as shown in Fi s. 3 and 6.

graduated metal guide and conducting rod 34, fastened at its lower end in and insulated from the upper head of the cylinder 23, extends upwardly therefrom parallel with the axis of the cylinder and with the piston rod 21. Upon this rod is mounted 'and adjustable lengthwise thereof, an electric contact piece 35, which is secured in adjusted position by a thumb screw 36. An electric contact piece 37, consisting of two metal plates with apiece 38, of insulating material between them, is pivoted to a supporting member 39, which in turn is pivoted in the upper forked end of the head 20. The insulation 38 projects slightly above and beyond the metal plates of the contact piece 37 toward the rod 34, and

' forms a stop which by engagement with the member 39, limits the movement of said contact piece in one direction. A tensionspring 40, connecting the contact piece 37 with a projection on the member 39, holds the contact piece yieldingly in its normal working position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7. A compression spring 41, interposed between the projection on the member. 39 and a corresponding projection or shoulder on the head 20, permits the upper end of said member with the. contact piece 37 to yield away from the rod 34, and thus allows said contact piece to pass the contact piece 35 in the downward movement of the piston 22 with the arm 18. VA shoulder 42, formed on the lower part of the member 39 below its pivot connection with the head 20, limits the movement of the upper part of said member with the contact piece 37 toward the rod 34. v

The device is provided with a signal for indicating to the operator audibly or visibly, when the mixer has been in operation for a certain length of time after receiving a charge, according to the adjustment of-the contact piece 35.- An electric bell 43, is shown for this purpose. The bell, which is inclosed with thetiming mechanism in the casing 6, is connected, as shown in Fi 3,

in series with the contact pieces 35 an 37, and with a source of current such as a battery of one or more dry cells 44, which may also be inclosed in said casing. One pole of the battery may be connected as shown in Fig. 3, by a wire 45 with one terminal of the bell magnet, and the other pole of the battery may be connected by a wire 46, with a binding screw 47 threaded in the rod 34. The other terminal of the bell magnet may be electrically connected with the contact piece 37 through the metal base plate 10, rocker shaft 8, arm 18, head 20 and member 39. A spring 48, connecting the arm 19 with a stud onthe base plate 10, tends to swing said arm downwardly against or toward a stop 49.

To register the number of batches delivered to and mixed in the machine, a counter 50, is connected with the rocker shaft 8 by spiral gears 51 and 52.

In the operation of the apparatus in connection with a concrete mixer as shown and described, when the skip or movable section 3 of the charging chute is lowered into position to receive a charge or batch, the fixed arm 19 on the rocker shaft 8 is turned downward into its lowest position against the stop 49. I

When the skip 3'is elevated into the position shown in Fig. 1, to deliver the charge.

y from the mixer druml.

The skip having been lowered to receive another charge or batch and the arm 19 turned downward against the stop 49, .the downward movement of the arm 18 with the piston 22 continues till the stud is carried into engagement with the notch in the dog 29, the spring 41 permitting the contact piece 37 to yield away from the rod 34 and pass the relatively fixed contact piece 35.

When the skip 3 is again elevated to deliver a charge into the mixer drum 1, the am: 18 with the piston 22 is carried upward with the arm 19 to its initial position and then released, the operation of the timing mechanism and'the signal being repeated as above explained. With the upward movement of the piston 22*and arm 18, the insulation 38 of the contact piece 37 engages with the fixed contact piece 35 without closing. the circuit and operating the signal, the contact piece 37 being turned downward against the tension of the spring 40 in passing the contact piece 35, as shown in Fig. 6.

The duration of the operation of the mixer on each batch or charge determined by the timing mechanism and indicated by the signal may be varied as desired by adjusting the contact piece 35 up or down on the rod 34, the time being shortened by the upward adjustment and lengthened by the downward adjustment of the contact piece.

Unauthorized interference with the adjustment or operation of the timing mechanism, signal and counter, is prevented, and the mechanism is protected against i11- jury, by inclosure iFthe casing 6, the door or cover of which is provided with a lock and is glazed to afford a clear view for reading the counter and observing the operation of the mechanism.

The collar 15, which is set on the rod. 12 at a distance from the collar 14 when the fixed arm 19 is against the 'stop 49, permitting the downward movement of said arm by the spring 48 without injury to the apparatus when the skip 3 is turned down into receiving position, prevents unauthorized operation of the timing mechanism, signal and counter, by manipulation of the arm 11 or rod 12, without turning the skip up into its delivery position, as shown in Fig. 1.

Various modifications in the details of construction and arrangement of parts of the apparatus and its connections may be made without departure from the principle and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

. 1. In combination, amixing machine, a charging device therefor, timing means to determine a proper period of duration of mixing after a charging operation of the charging device comprising a member propelled positively according to a predetermined period of time, and means controlled by said member enabling determination of the lapse of sufiicient time for proper admixture of materials introduced into the mixer.

2. In combination with a movable ma-- chine-charging device, timing mechanism adapted to be set in motion by the operation of the charging device, and an electric circuit controlling device comprising a movable contact piece connected with the timing mechanism, and an adjustable contact piece arranged to cooperate with the movable contact piece, to determine the dura tion of the operation of the machine after each operation of the charging device.

3. In timing mechanism the combination of a rocker shaft provided with fixed and loose arms, a dash pot connected with the loose arm, a dog on the fixed arm adapted by engagement with the loose arm to turn the same in one direction with the fixed arm, and a trip stop arranged to disengage the dog from the loose arm at the limit of its movement by the fixed arm.

4. In timing mechanism the combination of a rocker shaft, arms fixed and loosely mounted thereon, means tending to turn the loose arm in one direction, a dash pot connected with the loose arm and tending to retard its movement in that direction, a dog on one of said arms adapted by engagement with the other arm to turn the loose arm with the rocker shaft in the opposite direction, a trip stop adapted to disengage the dog and release the loose arm at the limit of its movement by the fixed arm, an electric signal and contact pieces in circuit with the signal, one of which is connected and movable with the loose arm.

5. In timing mechanism the combination of a rocker shaft provided with fixed and loose arms, an oscillatory dash pot cylinder provided with a piston which is connected with the loose arm, a spring connected with the loose arm and tending to turn it in one direction, a dog pivoted to the fixed arm.

andadapted by engagement with the loose arm to turn it in the opposite direction, and

of a movable part, means tending to shift said part away from its initial position, means for returning said part to its initial position, a contact piece connected and movable with said part, a relatively fixed contact piece adjustable toward and from the initial position of the movable contact piece in the path thereof, and a signal adapted to be operated by the engagement of said contact pieces.

7. In timing mechanism the combination of a movable part, means tending to shift said part away from its initial position,

means for returning said part to its initial position, aymetal contact piece yieldingly connected and movable with said part and provided with insulation, a relatively fixed metal contact piece in the path of the movable contact piece, and an electric signal connected in series with said contact pieces and with a source of current, the movable contact piece being adapted on its advance movement in passing the fixed contact piece to make metallic contact therewith and close the signal circuit and on its return movement in passing the fixed contact piece to be held by said insulation out of metallic contact therewith.

8. In timing'mechanism the combination of a retarded movable member, means tending to shift said member away from its initial position, a relatively fixed electric contact piece adjacent to the ,path of said movable member, a yielding support connected with said member and movable-away from the fixed contact piece, an electric contact piece yieldingly mounted on said support in position to engage with the fixed contact piece in passing the same in one direction and provided with insulation adapted to enage with the fixed contact piece in passing it in the opposite direction, and an electric signal connected in circuit with said contact pieces and vwith a source of current.

9. In timing mechanism the combination of a dash pot comprising a cylinder, a piston and means tending to move the piston in one direction, an oscillatory member, means for releasably connecting the oscillatory member with the piston to return the latter to its initial position, an electric contact piece connected and movable with the piston, a rod parallel with the cylinder, an electric contact piece mounted on said rod and; adjustable lengthwise thereof in the path of the other contact piece, and an electric signal connected in series with said contact pieces and with a source of current.

10. In timing mechanism the combination of a dash pot comprising an oscillatory cylinder and a piston, a rocker shaft provided with an operating arm, fixed and loose arms mounted on said shaft, the loose arm being connected with the dash pot piston, a spring tending to move the piston in one direction against the resistance of a fluid medium in the'cylinder, means for releasably connecting the fixed arm with the loose arm to return the piston to its initial position, an

the piston in one direction against the resistance of a fluid medium in the cylinder, an arm fixed on the rocker shaft adjacent to the loose arm and provided with a pivoted spring actuated dog adapted to releasably engage the loose arm for returning the piston against the tension of said spring to its initial position, a trip stop arranged todisengage the dog from the loose arm at the limit of its return movement, an electric contact piece yieldingly connected with the piston, a rod attached to the cylinder parallel with its axis and provided with an adjustable contact piece in the path of the othercontact piece, and an electric signal con nected in series with said contact pieces and with a source of current.

12. In timing mechanism the combination of a dash pot comprising an oscillatory cylinder and a piston fitted therein, a rocker shaft provided with a loose arm which is connected with the piston, a spring connected with said arm and tending to move the piston in one direction against the resistance of a fluid medium in the cylinder, an arm fixed on said shaft next to the loose arm, and provided with a dog adapted by engagement with the loose arm to move the piston in the opposite direction to its initial position, a trip stop adapted to disengage said dog from the loose arm at the limit of its return movement, a retracting spring connected with the fixed arm, an electric contact piece yieldingly connected with the iston an insulated conductin rod connected with the cylinder parallel with its axis, an electric contact piece mounted on and adjustable lengthwise of said rod, and an electric signal connected in series with the movable contact piece and conducting rod and with asource of current.

13. In timing mechanism the combination of a dash pot comprising an oscillatory cylinder and a piston fitted therein," a rocker shaft provided with an operating arm, arms fixed and loosely mounted onvsaid shaft adjacent to each other, the loose arm being connected with the piston, a spring tending to move the piston in one direction against the resistance of a fluid medium in the cylinder, a spring actuated dog pivoted on the fixed arm and adapted by engagement with the loose arm to return the piston to its normal position, a trip stop adapted to disengage the dog from the loose arm at the limit of its return movement, an electric contact piece yieldingly connected with the piston, a contact piece carried by the cylinder in the path of the other contact piece, an electric signal connected in series with said contact pieces and with a source of current,

and a counter connected with said rocker' shaft.

14. In combination with a movable machine charging device, timing mechanism comprising a spring propelled member, means intermediate the charging device and said member whereby the latter may be set into operation at a predetermined time by the charging device, and a signal for indicating the duration of operation of a machine charged by said charging device and arranged to be controlled to perform its signaling function at a predetermined time during the movement of said spring propelled member. i

15. In combination with a movable machine charging device, timing mechanism comprising a spring propelled member, actuating means for setting-said member for operation comprising an arm connected with said member, a second arm connected with the charging device for actuation thereby, interengaging means between said arms enabling the second arm to operate-the first arm on movement of the charging device, automatic means to render said interengaging means inactive whereby to release the a spring propelled member to enable spring propulsion thereof, means to retard spring propulsion movement of the said member,

mined period of time, controlled by the charging device, and means controlled by said member enabling determination of the lapse of sufficient time for proper admixture of materials introduced into the mixer.

17. In combination, a mixing machine, a

charging device therefor, timing means to determine a proper period of duration of mixing after a charging operation of the charging device comprising a member and means for positively propelling the same with a predetermined cycle of movement, and means controlled by said member enabling determination of the lapse of suflicient time for proper admixture of materials introduced into the mixer.

18. In combination, a mixing machine, a charging device therefor, timing means to determine a proper period of duration of mixing after a charging operation of the charging device comprising a member propelled positively according to a predetermined period of time, and means controlled by said member enabling determination of the lapse of sufiicient time for proper admixture of materials introduced into the mixer, and means to vary the cycle of movement of said positively propelled member,

In witness whereof I hereto aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES P. WETMORE.

Witnesses:

WM. K. WINKLER, CHAS. L. GOSS. 

